Do you need an attorney at all?

Not every case needs an attorney. Many small injury cases can be settled directly with the insurance company. Often, it makes more sense to settle a small case without the help of an attorney because attorney's fees and other costs, including your medical bills, might leave little or no compensation for you when the case is finished. This is especially true of a "fender bender" with some minor property damage and perhaps some minor "soft tissue" physical injuries, like a sore neck or sore back that clears up in a few days. On the other hand, if your case involves serious injuries or complicated issues of liability (meaning who is at fault) it becomes more important to have an attorney working on your side, or at the least to consult with an attorney prior to talking to the opposing party or the insurance company.